A couple of days before the counting of votes, several videos of Electronic Voting Machines’ (EVMs) alleged movement from one unauthorised storage house to another besides tampering went viral on social media prompting the Election Commission (EC) to issue a statement clarifying that all machines are safe and secure.
Terming it as frivolous and unfounded, the EC on Tuesday rejected allegations of discrepancies in the handling of EVMs and VVPAT (Voter Verified Paper Trail Machines) in some districts of Uttar Pradesh, saying that each strong room is guarded with round-the-clock security by Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and further, the candidates or their designated agents remain present at the strong room for 24X7 vigil at all times.
“After the close of polls, all polled EVMs and VVPATs are brought under security cover to the designated strong rooms, which is sealed with double locks, in the presence of the candidates and in the presence of Observers of the EC. The entire process of storage and sealing of the strongroom is covered under videography. Continuous CCTV coverage is done till completion of counting”, the EC said in a statement.
“On the counting day, the strongrooms are opened in the presence of the candidates/agents and Observer under videography. Before the counting of EVMs commences, the counting agents are shown the address tags, seals and serial number of the EVMs to satisfy themselves to the genuineness and authenticity of the machines used in the actual polls,” the EC said. “The visuals seen viral on media do not pertain to any EVMs used during the polls, “ it added.
The EC’s response came after political parties alleged that EVMs were being changed in strongrooms in Ghazipur, Chandauli, Domariyaganj and Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh at the instance of BJP. As the videos went viral, workers of various parties have started protests outside the strongrooms in these areas.
A video clip of EVMs being off-loaded and put in a room inside the counting centre complex in Chandauli was doing the rounds on social media. Referring to the incident in Chandauli, the EC said in its report that some people have made frivolous allegation and EVMs were kept safely in strongrooms. “Frivolous allegation by some people, EVMs were in proper security and protocol,” the EC said.
Another video is from Ghazipur where SP-BSP alliance candidate Afzal Ansari is seen staging protest alleging that the administration was trying to change EVMs. In the video, Ansari and his supporters were seen having a heated exchange with a police officer. The officer is urging them to clear the area, but the leader and his supporters refuse to budge, claiming there was an attempt to take out a vehicle loaded with EVMs.
On allegations of EVM rigging in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur, the EC said, “There was issue regarding “Having watch on polled EVM strong room by the candidates “which was resolved by conveying the ECI instructions (sic).”
In Domariyaganj too, some candidates had alleged that EVMs were not kept safely in strongrooms. The EC, however, rejected these claims too and said, “EVMs were in proper security and protocol. Agitation was unnecessary. They were convinced by DM and SP. The matter is resolved.”
The poll panel said that in Jhansi too there is no issue with the storage and handling of EVMs as all machines are stored in proper security and protocol in the presence of political parties’ candidates.